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Amazon Go Store Launched in Seattle – The Future of Shopping?

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Amazon Go Store Launched in Seattle – The Future of Shopping?

Amazon’s first checkout-free store Amazon Go opened in Seattle this week and retail watchers are predicting this may revolutionize retail shopping.

In previous articles we noted that today’s consumers are seeking a more convenient, speedier shopping and checkout experience, and cutting out any line-up for an available cashier will shorten the entire shopping trip.

Using what Amazon calls the “Just Walk Out Shopping” system the store uses multiple in-store cameras, scanners and shelf sensors to record when you pick up an item, put it in your shopping bag, or return it to the shelf.

The system requires customers to download the Amazon Go app to their smartphone, which is connected to a registered account via QR code and to a credit card. When products are placed in your bag, the item is added to a virtual shopping cart, and removed if you put it back on the shelf. Once you exit the store scanners will alert for all purchases to be charged to your credit card and they send you a receipt. You may also use their app to check what is on sale or review previous purchases.

One can’t help but wonder if this is the ultimate method to reduce shoplifting, yet theft is not a concern to Amazon. CNBC reported one of their staff members accidentally shoplifted because the app missed one of the purchases taken from the store. The surprise response from Amazon when it was dutifully reported to them was that they are so confident this would rarely happen they do not even have a formal reporting method in place. They told the CNBC staffer to enjoy the item “on us”.

While this technology and store concept may speed up check-out times for customers, it appears to best suit the flagship store’s small size (about 1,800 square feet or the size of a small convenience store) and shoppers that are looking for prepared-in-store, frozen or ready-to-eat foods, which is about 50% of the product offerings.

As to the future of shopping, Amazon said they had no plans to bring the concept to their Whole Foods Market stores, with the implication being that the inventory would be too large and diverse for cashier-less shopping.

Although Walmart is testing its own similar checkout-free stores one would guess the final concept will likely be a smaller store with limited inventory like Amazon Go.

Cholesterol Conference Invitation: Vancouver CHFA WEST

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Cholesterol Conference Invitation: Vancouver CHFA WEST

Cholesterol Conference Invitation: Vancouver CHFA WEST

BEAT CHOLESTEROL!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 23, 2018 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM CHFA WEST – VANCOUVER

Vancouver Convention Centre, West Building, Vancouver, BC

1055 Canada Pl
Vancouver, BC V6C 0C3
Canada

Speaker: Cyril Meyre ND.A.

Cholesterol Conference Invitation: Vancouver CHFA WEST

 

HIGH CHOLESTEROL HAS RISEN TO EPIDEMIC PROPORTIONS. THE CONVENTIONAL SOLUTIONS ARE NOT PROMISING.

I AM PRESENTING AN EFFECTIVE GROUND BREAKING ALTERNATIVE. JOIN ME.

 

  • This Informative discussion will investigate the issues surrounding high cholesterol.
  • What has contributed to the epidemic rise in cholesterol?
  • What are the popular myths surrounding this health issue?

Let’s break some of those down.

  • What are the most effective ways to return to a balanced lipid level and a balanced state of health?
  • What is the link between metabolic syndrome, homocysteine and high cholesterol?

We look forward to sharing our effective cholesterol busting natural health solutions with you!

Visit our site for more information:

http://herbasante.ca

RTD Beverages: The Next Frontier For Apple Cider Vinegar

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RTD Beverages: The Next Frontier For Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) has been a pillar of natural health since time immemorial. Consumed for over 5000 years, ACV’s seemingly endless list of applications and health benefits have begotten it’s longstanding “cure-all” reputation.

The age-old ferment is now positioned to enter a new frontier in the Canadian marketplace: the Ready-To-Drink (RTD) beverage category. A handful of single-serve “drinking vinegars” have already appeared on US grocery shelves, delivering ACV’s health merits in a convenient grab-and-go format which checks two important boxes for millennial consumers: convenience and added health benefits.

With the kombucha market poised to grow 25% annually each of next three years, the demand for fermented, digestion-friendly beverages is trending up.

Drinking vinegars fit the bill. Their arrival in North America is equal parts innovation and rediscovery, as the new generation of drinking vinegars draws on a long history of “acidulated”  beverages, cordials, and elixirs like kvass, switchel, and shrub. These popular digestive tonics, often flavoured with fruits, herbs, and spices, reached their heyday in 17th century Colonial America.

Like their historical predecessors, modern drinking vinegars are chock full of organic acids and enzymes which promote sound digestion and help maintain healthy blood sugar levels. They are also “Paleo” and “Keto”-compliant, and have become popular among adherents of these diets to help “cut through” rich and fatty meals.

SPOTLIGHT ON ACV QUALITY

Globally, apple cider vinegar is set to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10% through 2020. As the category grows, product quality should become a major differentiating factor among competing brands. Here are a few considerations bound to enter apple cider vinegar consumer discourse:

ORGANIC APPLES

Apples rank #4 on the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list of heavily-sprayed fruits and vegetables. Conventionally (non-organic) grown apples are commonly treated with fungicides to prevent disease and rusts. Aside from the risk these chemicals pose to humans and their environment, they also interfere with the natural fermentation process required to produce high-quality ACV. As availability of organic apples is dependent on reliable harvests, vertically-integrated ACV brands that produce from their own orchards may have an advantage when it comes to product quality and consistency.

FRESH VS FROM-CONCENTRATE

Apple cider vinegar made from fresh apple cider produces a markedly different end-product than that produced from cooked and concentrated vinegar stock. The latter method of production has become increasingly common among ACV producers, and while both processes can technically claim to be raw and unpasteurized, for consumers the most familiar comparison between the two processes would be that of fresh-pressed juice vs. juice from concentrate.   

New Research Shows That Sunlight Can Shrink Fat Cells

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New Research Shows That Sunlight Can Shrink Fat Cells

A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Alberta shows that sunlight can shrink fat cells that lie just below the skin.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Scientific Reports in November and reveal that the lipid droplets found in subcutaneous fat cells become smaller and are released from the cells when exposed to blue light emitted by the sun. This means that cells retain less fat.

“When the sun’s blue light wavelengths—the light we can see with our eye—penetrate our skin and reach the fat cells just beneath, lipid droplets reduce in size and are released out of the cell. In other words, our cells don’t store as much fat,” said Peter Light, senior author of the study, professor of pharmacology and the director of the University of Alberta’s Alberta Diabetes Institute.

Light and his team were actually looking for treatments for Type 1 diabetes and were attempting to engineer fat cells to produce insulin through light exposure when they stumbled upon this discovery. “It was serendipitous,” said Light. “We noticed the reaction in human tissue cells in our negative control experiments, and since there was nothing in the literature, we knew it was important to investigate further.”

Research already shows that blue light has an effect on our body, specifically the blue light emitted from digital devices like cell phones, tablets and laptops. We’re warned against using these devices before bed because they emit the same blue light that the sun does and can signal our bodies to wake up.

“Well, perhaps that pathway—exposure to sunlight that directs our sleep-wake patterns—may also act in a sensory manner, setting the amount of fat humans burn depending on the season. You gain weight in the winter, and then burn it off in the summer,” says Light.

This could explain why we tend to gain more weight in winter months, when the days are shorter and our exposure to the sun is lower.

This doesn’t mean that simply spending more time in the sun should be considered an effective weight loss technique. As Light cautions, “The study we just published, actually, was more of an observation of the effect…. Now, we need to know what the underlying mechanism is.” More research needs to be done to determine the intensity and duration of light exposure required to see useful results.

The researchers hope their findings could lead to pharmacological or light-based treatments for obesity and other weight-related health issues in the future.

 

Walmart to Convert 63 Sam’s Club Stores to E-Commerce Centers

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Walmart to Convert 63 Sam's Club Stores to E-Commerce Centers

Sam’s Club, a division of Walmart Stores, Inc., announced that it was closing 63 locations across the United States. Twelve of these locations will be converted to e-commerce fulfillment centers.

This move marks a strategic decision to focus on online growth and to better position Sam’s Club and Walmart to compete with major competitors like Costco and Amazon.

Sam’s Club President and CEO, John Furner, announced that a review showed having too many stores was hindering the business of other locations, and the additional stores were not supported by expected population growth in those areas.

“Transforming our business means managing our real estate portfolio—we need a strong fleet of clubs that are fit for the future,” he wrote to employees. “After a thorough review, it became clear we had built clubs in some locations that impacted other clubs, and where population had not grown as anticipated.”

By utilizing existing facilities, Walmart has been able to leverage its vast real estate holdings and their unparalleled proximity to customers. The company is hoping to expand its e-commerce capabilities by building a wider network of fulfillment centers to give them quicker access to more online customers and the ability to deliver goods to customers faster.

Furner notes, “We’ve decided to right-size our fleet and better align our locations with our strategy,” he wrote. “We will be closing some clubs, and we notified them today. We’ll convert some of them into eCommerce fulfillment centers—to better serve the growing number of members shopping with us online and continue scaling the SamsClub.com business.”

The first of these converted e-commerce centers will be located in Memphis, Tennessee.

These closures came as a shock to many Sam’s Club employees, leaving approximately 10,000 workers unemployed. The company has promised to work closely with employees, transitioning some to other locations and providing severance and bonuses to those who are eligible.

“We know this is difficult news for our associates and we are working to place as many of them as possible at nearby locations. Our focus today has been on those associates and their communities, and communicating with them,” says Furner.

Despite reported growth of 4.4% of Sam’s Club sales in the most recently reported quarter, Furner is confident that the store closures will allow them to redirect resources to focus on improving the Sam’s Club website and in-store technology. The company also plans to expand its fresh food offerings and improve overall product selection.

Atrium Innovations’ Owner Nestlé sells U.S. Chocolate Division to Italy’s Ferrero

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Atrium Innovations’ Owner Nestlé sells U.S. Chocolate Division to Italy’s Ferrero

Just in time for Valentine’s Day a sweetheart of a deal was announced last week by chocolatiers The Ferrero Group and Nestlé. Based in Italy, Ferrero is the family-owned creator of popular hazelnut chocolate brand Nutella. They will acquire Nestlé’s U.S. chocolate and confectionary business for US $2.8 billion by end of first quarter 2018.

Nestlé’s U.S. chocolate bar sales had slipped in recent years and insiders believe they are now focusing on products that are being seen as healthier, a category of the market where they lagged behind competitors. Their U.S. confectionary sales accounted for about 1% of Nestlé’s total annual global sales.

Just last month Nestlé purchased Quebec-based Atrium Innovations for US $2.3 billion in cash, rolling their brands into Nestlé’s Health Science division. The Atrium brands include Wobenzym, Douglas Laboratories, Genestra Brands, and Trophic. In their press release last week, they mentioned infant nutrition and frozen meals as areas for planned future growth.

Ferrero’s acquisition appears to be part of their plan to gain a stronger foothold in the U.S. confectionary market, thought to be valued at $22 billion annually, and which will now see Ferrero become the third-largest confectionary company in the U.S.

Ferrero, which also owns Tic Tac mints and Ferrero Rocher praline products, will add some iconic American brands to their portfolio such as Butterfinger, BabyRuth, and Wonka.

Ferrero stated they, “will continue to operate through the offices in Glendale, California, as well as from its other current locations in Illinois and in New Jersey.”

Technology Transforming Retail in 2018

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Technology Transforming Retail in 2018

Retailers have seen numerous changes over the past 100 years since a new concept for grocery stores was developed in 1916 by the founder of Piggly Wiggly, Clarence Saunders. Credited as operating the first retail store that was self-serve, Saunders might be very surprised today at how retail has grown beyond his self-serve concept. Shoppers now have many options for making purchases more conveniently using emerging technologies.

 

Early in the last century, shoppers would visit a ‘dry goods’ store, hand over a list of needs to the proprietor or store clerk who would then hand-pick items. Choices were limited by individual store inventory and the quality or availability of products, delivery was rarely an option, and wait times were long for some items that needed to be specially ordered and adding to the total cost. After the trip to the dry goods store, shoppers would then often make their way to the butcher, the druggist, and the hardware store as one-stop shopping at the club and big-box stores was still far in the future.

 

Today, many large and small retailers are back to hand-picking and delivering grocery items for you, and Walmart will even put them in your refrigerator!

 

Here’s just a short list of evolving new trends for retail shopping in 2018: AI-powered inventory management and real-time shelf monitoring, beacons and location mapping, chatbots to lead you to specific items in the store, digital shelf labeling, interactive displays, robotic and other automated devices, smart receipt apps to track spending, and more.

 

At the recent CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas, South Korea’s LG Electronics debuted no less than 3 robots to serve their human overlords at hotels, airports and in the grocery aisle. Although a long way from release to the public, this is another sign that the 1960’s TV cartoon “The Jetsons” was not just entertainment fantasy.

 

Amazon and Echo invested heavily in marketing to convince us to buy their voice-activated devices this past holiday season. These mini-precursors of Orwellian telescreens listen for your voice commands for a variety of chores including checking some stores’ inventories and making shopping lists for online or in-person shopping.

 

While visiting your favourite grocery store, the self-checkout options are increasing as well. US grocery chain Kroger is expanding its “Scan, Bag & Go” app technology which allows shoppers to self-scan purchases while shopping, which they say will speed up check-out times for customers. Walmart is rumoured to be testing an AI-powered store surveillance concept where shoppers will be watched on camera and automatically billed for items they place in the shopping cart, and thereby avoid the entire cashier and check-out process entirely.

 

Whether your favourite store is the local green grocer or the world’s largest retailer it’s expected that some of these technologies may have to be adopted by retailers just to remain in the competition for our grocery spending. Although consumer tastes may change over the years, serving customers with speed and efficiency appears to be a constant necessity. Yet, with all these options for faster, more convenient shopping one wonders if the inventor of self-serve shopping, Piggly Wiggly’s Clarence Saunders would approve, or go with the low-tech option of sending the eldest kid in the family to the store with a list.

 

https://www.fooddive.com/news/grocery–5-tech-trends-that-will-shape-grocery-in-2018/514576/

https://www.cnet.com/videos/lg-demos-new-concept-robots-at-ces-2018/

http://www.businessinsider.com/kroger-is-rolling-out-digital-shelf-technology-2018-1

https://www.clickz.com/how-six-retailers-are-using-chatbots-to-boost-customer-engagement-and-why-you-should-too/111350/

https://www.fooddive.com/news/grocery–kroger-expanding-its-scan-bag-go-program-to-400-stores/513855/

Challenges in the Dairy Industry in 2018

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Challenges in the Dairy Industry in 2018

The dairy industry is facing increased challenges as sales continue to decrease due to a rising demand for plant-based varieties of milk, cheese and other dairy-based foods. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, organic milk is in such oversupply that manufacturers are scrambling to turn it into other products. Its short shelf-life is especially challenging and the drop in demand has caused some companies to send cows to early slaughter in an effort to recoup some losses.

 

For years, the health benefits of consuming dairy products made from nuts, grains and other vegetarian sources have been featured across all media. Now, most food retailers carry plant-based dairy milks made from almond, coconut, and soy (the most popular versions) giving consumers greater choices to suit individual lifestyles. In health food stores one can find milks manufactured from quinoa, pecan, and rice while the industry continues to develop new plant-based dairy foods.

 

The numbers suggest it’s not just those who are lactose-intolerant that are making the switch to plant-based milks across North America.

 

Another challenge to the industry is noted in a research article published just this week by the Journal of Dairy Science. The article highlighted the need for protective packaging for cow’s milk due to artificial lighting contributing to an “off” flavour to the milk, with the LED lighting causing the worst flavouring change vs fluorescent lighting. The study concluded with a recommendation that “Light-protective packaging may be the most effective approach in protecting milk from photo-induced sensory damage.”

 

Mintel.com just released a report on the US Dairy Industry which stated that non-dairy milk sales have grown 61% in five years, and they projected total sales of plant-based milks would reach $2.11 Billion USD by end of 2017. Their press release noted that almond milk has a 64% market share, followed by soy milk at 13% and coconut milk at 12%.

 

As 2018 develops it shall be interesting to see if more animal-based dairy companies begin investing in plant-based dairy, as we’ve seen in the meat industry with packaged food giants like Maple Leaf Foods investing in plant-based protein manufacturers.

 

 

http://www.mintel.com/press-centre/food-and-drink/non-dairy-milk-sales-grow-61-percent

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dairy-producers-farmers-struggle-with-organic-milk-oversupply-1514889001

http://www.journalofdairyscience.org/article/S0022-0302(17)31010-X/fulltext

 

 

How exercise can help you quit smoking

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How exercise can help you quit smoking

A new study published in the British Journal of Pharmacology in December 2017 suggests that even moderate intensity exercise reduces the severity of nicotine withdrawal symptoms in smokers.

 

Researchers at St. George’s University of London exposed mice to nicotine for 14 days and measured the effects of exercise intensity on their nicotine withdrawal symptoms. The mice were either given access to an exercise wheel for 24 hours a day, 2 hours a day or not at all. On the 14th day, researchers analyzed the mice’s withdrawal symptoms. The results showed that the mice who had access to the exercise wheel, whether for 2 hours or 24, experienced less severe withdrawal symptoms compared to the sedentary mice.

 

The study also shows that exercise produces an up-regulation of the hippocampal α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, a type of nicotine brain receptor.

 

” We demonstrated for the first time a profound effect of exercise on α7 nAChRs [nicotinic acetylcholine receptors] in nicotine-dependent animals, irrespective of exercise intensity. These findings shed light onto the mechanism underlining the protective effect of exercise on the development of nicotine dependence”, wrote lead study author Helen Keyworth, at the University of Surrey, and colleagues.

 

“[O]ur results demonstrate the effectiveness of even a moderate amount of exercise during nicotine exposure in attenuating nicotine withdrawal symptoms and point towards the hippocampal α7 nAChR system as a potential mechanism underlining this effect. These findings may also have implications for the development of targeted interventions prior to smoking cessation, which may increase the chances of smoking cessation.”

 

The positive effects of exercise are consistent with earlier human clinical studies that show that undertaking even 10 minutes of moderate intensity exercise when trying to quit smoking can reduce nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

 

While the number of Canadians who smoke is declining, according to a 2016 Statistics Canada report, smoking is still the cause of 45,000 deaths each year or 1 in 5 deaths in the country. The report indicates that 16.9% of Canadians aged 12 or older smoke daily or occasionally, down from 17.7% in 2015.

 

In humans, typical nicotine withdrawal symptoms include, nicotine cravings, anger, irritability, anxiety and depression.

 

 

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.14068/full

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/tobacco/withdrawal-fact-sheet

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11685385

http://www.cancer.ca/en/about-us/for-media/media-releases/national/2017/cost-of-tobacco/?region=on

https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-625-x/2017001/article/54864-eng.htm

Options for Winter Eczema

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Options for Winter Eczema

The Arctic chill that descended over North America this winter caused many to suffer more cold-related illness and injury than is normal. For some, the extreme dry cold activates their eczema, and in fact, the term “winter eczema” is often used to describe the atopic dermatitis that occurs more often in the winter months because of the cold temperatures and lack of moisture in the air.

 

Even those without eczema may feel their skin is drier or more “itchy”, especially when indoors after being outside in the cold. This is caused by the skin reacting to the sudden temperature change, and additionally, the lack of humidity during winter causes the air to extract more moisture from the skin. This may lead to flaky, cracked skin, leaving one more vulnerable to infection, and especially on the hands which are being washed more often to avoid cold and flu germs.

 

Treatment Options

  1. OTC Topical Ointments – Your local health food store, pharmacy or favourite grocery retailer usually sells a variety of creams for eczema. For less side effects, look for those that have least number of chemical additives, such as alcohol which can further dry the skin. Some products will just moisturize the skin, some may address the itch or rash, while others are more for cleansing to prevent infection. Products that contain oatmeal or calendula oil may also help relieve the itch. Ask your nutritionist about vitamins, foods or supplements that have proven benefits in moisturizing the skin from the inside out, such as Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), eating more fish, avocados, almonds (contains Vitamin E) and more.
  2. Bathing & Moisturizing – Often the best way to reduce eczema is through a proper bathing and moisturizing routine. Avoid overly hot showers or baths, and instead try this: put oatmeal into cheesecloth or a clean, sheer stocking, tie it below the faucet while filling a tub with warm water so that the water runs over it. After a good soak, moisturize immediately after bath. Ask a professional for other natural, drug-free options for adding to a soothing bath.
  3. Prescription Topicals – If severe enough, consider seeing your doctor for a prescription topical that will reduce itching, redness, and cracking of the skin to help ward off infection. Most of these contain steroids or other ingredients that may cause side effects so be sure to ask about any warnings or contraindications.
  4. Light Therapy – UVB (ultraviolet B) is present in natural sunlight and research has shown it can be a safe and effective treatment for eczema and psoriasis. Treatment is conducted by a medical professional (in clinic or at home) for a set length of time and duration. The skin is exposed to an artificial UVB light source where it penetrates the skin and may slow the growth of affected skin cells. This treatment may also help increase Vitamin D production, further helping the skin.

 

Whichever method you may choose, consider a regimen of routine skin care to avoid eczema for any weather condition. Perhaps combining some or all of these treatment options can help you avoid the itch while staying warm.

 

 

https://nationaleczema.org/eczema-in-winter/

https://nationaleczema.org/eczema/treatment/phototherapy/

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